Poverty

The Latest

The Syrian flag.

Cardinal says Syria has been hit with a ‘poverty bomb’

Sep 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

After nearly 10 years of war, the Syrian people have now been hit with a “poverty bomb” amid the coronavirus... Read more

Saint Ines church in historical downtown of Cumana, Venezuela.

Venezuelan bishop pleads for help: ‘Either COVID kills us or hunger kills us’

Jul 23, 2020

The dire economic situation in Venezuela, combined with the effects of the pandemic lockdown, has led to a crisis more... Read more

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy, in St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 5, 2019.

Cardinal says it is time to rebuild, as economic crisis hits northern Italy

Jul 3, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

A cardinal archbishop in northern Italy said Friday that the COVID-19 health crisis has created an “immense” poverty in the... Read more

Pope Francis gives his Angelus address June 7, 2020.

Pope Francis: Catholics cannot ignore the poverty caused by the pandemic

Jun 13, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Saturday that the coronavirus pandemic has revealed poverty that Catholics cannot ignore.  Read more

Pope Francis celebrates morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta April 23, 2020.

Pope Francis prays for families going hungry amid pandemic

Apr 23, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis asked people to pray on Thursday for families who are struggling to put food on the table during... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass in Casa Santa Marta on April 2, 2020.

God will judge us by how we treated the poor, says Pope Francis

Apr 6, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Many people suffering from poverty are victims of the “structural injustice” of today’s global economy, Pope Francis said in his... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter Square, Feb. 22, 2017.

Pope Francis to financial leaders: Ending poverty is our duty 

Feb 5, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis called on global financial leaders and economists to end economic inequality Wednesday, saying that modern resources make ending... Read more

Amid Argentina food crisis, Caritas aims to help

Jan 15, 2020

Amid a continuing economic crisis in Argentina, the Catholic relief agency Caritas is working to provide food for thousands of... Read more

View of the Villa 31 slum of Buenos Aires, Argentina, 01 May, 2014. Villa 31 is an illegally built neighborhood in the center of the city.

In Argentina, poverty rate highest in ten years

Dec 9, 2019

The latest report issued by the Argentina Observatory of Social Debt of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina showed that... Read more

Catholic leaders say food stamp cuts will harm people, but not put them to work

Dec 6, 2019

By Mary Farrow

A new rule that will disqualify roughly 700,000 people from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called food... Read more

Pope Francis at the Caritas Citadel of Charity in Rome.

Pope Francis visits a local charity in Rome with a message of solidarity

Nov 30, 2019

By Courtney Mares

In a visit to Rome’s Caritas center Friday, Pope Francis emphasized the shared experience of vulnerability among Christ and the... Read more

Mass for the World Day of the Poor in St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis: The poor, unborn, and elderly are neglected in the frenzy of modern life

Nov 17, 2019

By Courtney Mares

On the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis said that the poor and most vulnerable can be left behind... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Oct. 23, 2019.

Pope Francis: Inclusive capitalism leaves no one behind

Nov 11, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Monday called for the renewal and purification of economic models to be fair, trustworthy, and capable of extending... Read more

St. Francis of Assisi.

Will the real St. Francis please stand up?

Oct 4, 2019

By Matt Hadro

St. Francis of Assisi is widely known for his life of poverty and love of creation. But there’s a lesser-known... Read more

Argentina flag.

Argentine bishops ask government to declare food emergency

Sep 6, 2019

Catholic bishops in Argentina are calling on the government to declare a food and nutrition emergency in response to heightened... Read more

Pregnant woman looking at ultrasound.

For pregnant women facing poverty, pro-life groups offer resources for success

Jul 14, 2019

By Mary Farrow

Poor women are the most likely population to obtain an abortion.  Read more

Pope Francis in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, August 2018.

Christians must sow hope among the poor, pope says

Jun 13, 2019

Pope Francis challenged Catholics to be a source of hope for those in poverty, especially in the face of divisions... Read more

President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Caritas head applauds Philippines new anti-poverty measure

May 29, 2019

A new law in the Philippines to support those living in poverty has won the praise of Caritas Manila, a... Read more

Pope Francis at the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome Feb. 14, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Inequality is disastrous for the future of humanity'

Feb 15, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis spoke out about inequality, the environment, sustainable development and the elimination of poverty during his visit to the... Read more

Fr. Ugo de Censi.

Priest who served thousands in Peruvian highlands dies at 94

Dec 5, 2018

The Salesian founder of Operation Mato Grosso, a ministry of service and job training for low-income people in South America,... Read more